un: daozhang | audio

[binghua]

I have been thinking lately, perhaps too much, about forgiveness. Or, rather, resentment, especially with regards to these curses we've been gifted. I don't know what everyone else has to break, but mine involves jealousy and, thus, its own kind of resentment. I think most lingering cases such as these stem from unhappiness along a similar vein.

As a cultivator, it is my duty to cleanse such resentment from the dead so as not to affect the living in their wake. I am willing to help anyone else who may need it, though I fear I may not be as much help as others. I'm not sure I'm the best at forgiveness, either, even for myself...

[Xingchen's voice trails off, almost as if he forgets he's talking to anyone else, but he quickly recovers and clears his throat.]

I'm rambling. What I mean to say is I would like your cooperation if it's not too much to ask. As I said before my curse involves jealousy and words spoken in anger and dissatisfaction. I would like for as many of us to instead spread words of affirmation around the village. It might sound silly, and maybe it is, but I believe even something so small can make a difference. For example, last night I told one of the bartenders he had a pleasing voice. It doesn't have to be anything complicated, just kind.

Don't feel as if I'm forcing you, either. No one has to help if they don't want to.

Comments

[binghua]

[There's a choked-off laugh.]

You wouldn't catch me?

[downswing]

My arm fails easily.

[binghua]

You wouldn't even try?

[downswing]

( Topic change, now. )

What do you make of the reasoning of local redemption?

Traded atonement.

[binghua]

[Lan Wangji really isn't a great conversationalist, but Xingchen goes along with the sudden shift.]

On one hand, being forced to partake in this doesn't sit well with me. If someone is forced to do something they tend to not give it the care it deserves. Atonement can be such a delicate thing, too, that it should be treated carefully.

But on the other hand, I can see where one might think doing this in a community could build stronger ties. I cannot say how successful that is, however.

gently switching to voice...

[downswing]

One man's sins are not another's. Trade ill done.

what a brave boy

[binghua]

I agree with you. Unfortunately, stigmas tend to be inherited.

sob

[downswing]

But shared in truth? Justice? Honesty?

[binghua]

Perception.

[downswing]

One man's hand cannot wash blood off another's.

[binghua]

Can they help? At least to gain some closure.

[downswing]

It appears... wrong. To my eye, my tongue.

[binghua]

I understand. Hanguang-jun is a noble man who cares for the wellbeing of others.

[At least, that's the impression Xingchen gets. He remembers an earlier conversation with Lan Sizhui and how the young man's description of Lan Wangji reminded him of Song Lan and he finds that still holds up.]

I don't know if this helps, but we might also look at these curses similarly to how one would help the dead move on where we come from. They often linger because they want something, either for themselves or someone else. But they can't do it by themselves, so we have to intercede.

[downswing]

A mandated intercession.

If sin is cleansed by distant hands, is it atoned for? What was learned by the perpetrator?

Uncle. It is a shallow water.